a. [f. SPARK sb.2 + -ISH.]
1. Of persons: Having the character, airs, or manners of a spark or gallant.
1641. J. Johnson, Acad. Love, 99. If it were not for some of the old out-of-date Grandames (who are set over the rest as their tutoresses) the young sparkish Girles would read in Shakespeere day and night.
1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, IV. ii. I have been detained by a sparkish coxcomb, who pretended a visit to me.
1694. R. L’Estrange, Fables, 32. A daw that had a mind to be sparkish tricked himself with all the gay feathers he could muster.
a. 1718. Penn, Life, in Wks. (1726), I. 159. A Rich, Young, Neat, Sparkish Husband.
1767. S. Paterson, Anoth. Trav., I. 55. Genteel! Ha! Sparkish! A good bit! Admirable.
1830. Fraser’s Mag., II. 458. The place of the sparkish Templar, the wit about town, was then in the pit of a theatre.
a. 1857. D. Jerrold, J. Applejohn, xviii. Several sparkish holyday makers broke through the press.
2. Of things: Characteristic of, or appropriate to, a spark; of a smart or elegant make.
1657. May, Life Satyr. Puppy, 5. The Gentleman marking my sparkish behaviour … earnestly enquires after my name.
1667. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), II. 116. Mr. Aubrey was then in a sparkish garb.
1687. Reflect. on Hind & Panther, 17. And indeed he hath done it in the Sparkishest Poem that ever was seen.
1704. Swift, T. Tub, ii. Observe how sparkish a periwig adorns the head of a beech.
1884. J. Sharman, Hist. Swearing, 5. Some [pipes] were light and sparkish, others ponderous and clumsy.
Hence Sparkishness.
1687. Mrs. Behn, Luckey Chance, Prol.
| Who thinks good usage for the Sex unfit, | |
| And slights ye out of Sparkishness and Wit. |
1727. Bailey (vol. II.), Sparkishness, Gaiety, Briskness, Spruceness, &c.
